Morphologic changes in photodamaged organotypic human skin culture after treatment of autologous adipose-derived stromal cells

Background: Recent clinical trials indicate that human adipose-derived stromal cells (hASCs) have beneficial effects on antiaging and wound healing. This study examined the morphologic changes in photodamaged human organotypic skin culture after treatment of autologous hASCs. Methods: Abdominal skin flaps were obtained from 8 white females who underwent abdominoplasties with liposuction. The adipose layer was removed and used for hASC isolation. Sections of skin were removed and cultured in serum-free medium. To induce photodamage, some of the skin pieces were irradiated with maximum subcytotoxic doses of UVB (1600 J/m²) and UVA (250 J/m²). The effects of hASC on skin segments were evaluated by coculture as a feeder layer or by injecting intradermally. Portions of the skin samples were removed for analysis on days 3, 5, 7, and 9 of culture and analyzed histologically for morphology, viability, and proliferation status. Results: Epidermal necrosis of irradiated skin was significantly reduced by the presence of hASCs. Increased parakeratosis was observed at early time points, and apoptosis in epidermis was markedly decreased by hASCs. Differences were observed in epidermal differentiation but not basal cell proliferation. Similar results were obtained by both methods of hASC treatment to the skin. Conclusions: Exposure of UV-irradiated skin to hASC attenuated cell senescence and promoted repair from photodamage in an organotypic skin culture. These results suggest that hASC treatment may have a useful therapeutic effect for salvaging photodamaged skin.